Gaston County Schools takes flak over Forestview threat

Thursday

The father of a Forestview High School senior says he's unhappy with the school's response following an alleged gun threat that led to one of its students being arrested.

Hunter Bazzle allegedly told students Monday he had plans to shoot up the school, and named specific teachers within that threat. The 17-year-old was booked into the Gaston County Jail just before 2 p.m. Tuesday and held on $250,000 bond for threatening mass violence on an educational property.

But parents at the school weren't informed of the incident until they received an automated voicemail from Forestview administration after 11 a.m. Wednesday, Gaston County Schools spokesman Todd Hagans said.

The Gazette first published a report on the arrest at GastonGazette.com at 10:35 a.m. Wednesday, at least half an hour before the official Forestview response.

Bazzle was booked into Gaston County Jail at 1:37 p.m. Tuesday.

For Chuck Hill, the school's notificaton to parents was too late.

"If they would've called me on Monday and told me what was going on, I would've told my daughter to come home and stay home," Hill said Thursday. "If they're going to have a threat that serious and not notify me as a parent, my kid doesn't need to be in that school system. It's a complete failure."

Hagans confirmed Thursday school officials knew about the threat on Monday, but said they delayed notifying students until Wednesday because there was an ongoing investigation and because police didn't consider the school to be unsafe.

He added that a notification would've been pushed out quicker if the threat came in anonymously and officials didn't know who was responsible.

"It's unfortunate that parents are so focused on complaining about notifications," Hagans said. "There are probably some parents that appreciate what the school did."

Several parents called the school system's main office to complain about timing, Hagans said.

Hagans said each situation is different but that he had no regrets about how the school system handled it.

"There's a way that you work on the investigation," Hagans said. "You get the information, you work on the investigation and then you communicate what you can to parents. Had it been an anonymous threat, the communication could've been different... I think the school did what it was supposed to do."

Hill says it shouldn't be up to school officials to determine what is safe for students, and that parents should be notified of all threats.

"I think it is a complete and full failure of the communication system to not notify us of a threat to our kids," Hill said. "Who is supposed to determine that? I think it's supposed to be my choice."

In court, Assistant District Attorney Zach Holeve described Bazzle as a troubled teen with mental health issues and expressed fears he could harm others if he gets out of jail. District Court Judge Craig Collins was concerned enough about the case he refused a request from defense attorney Michael Neece to lower Bazzle's bond.

Forestview administrators and a school resource officer attended Bazzle's court hearing on Wednesday.

"They have to notify parents," Hill said. "They have to notify us about what's going on. It's my responsibility to take care of my daughter, to make sure she's safe. I have to know about this. That's the only thing I'm saying."

Bazzle has been "kicked out" of school, Neece said in court. Gaston County School officials will have a hearing to determine his status as a student going forward.

He remained in jail Thursday under that $250,000 bond.

You can reach Adam Lawson at 704-869-1842 or on Twitter @GazetteLawson

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.